The new rule book is here! The new rule book is here! [merged]

[pmcg]

Originally Posted by cfischer

sorry, this is not possible

Sir.

[psollitt]

Hi all,

I just have noticed this thread We won the battle, but not the war! SAS temporarily cancels upgrade award hike from the SAS eurobonus forum, they have managed to get SAS to reverse a planned increase in points for upgrades.

They also appear to have a healthy dialog with their management , in fact one we could only dream of with flying blue..

Given the amount of Plats and golds who WILL leave to go to the greener pastures of other airlines after april the 1st, it seems that SAS really do care for their elites , and KLM/af could not give 2 monkies about theirs .... so so sad

[cfischer]

Originally Posted by psollitt

Hi all,

I just have noticed this thread We won the battle, but not the war! SAS temporarily cancels upgrade award hike from the SAS eurobonus forum, they have managed to get SAS to reverse a planned increase in points for upgrades.

They also appear to have a healthy dialog with their management , in fact one we could only dream of with flying blue..

Given the amount of Plats and golds who WILL leave to go to the greener pastures of other airlines after april the 1st, it seems that SAS really do care for their elites , and KLM/af could not give 2 monkies about theirs .... so so sad

AF doesn't care a bit. Did you hear any response to our whining? Anything other than 'we don't care'. Did you see any info on partner earnings? They don't care if 50+% of their PEs leave ... so be it.

[FlyinDutchman]

I had a written confirmation that the transatlantic and pacific flights I booked for April with NW through a travel agency (no KLM/AF code share on the ticket) in Q class will earn me 100% of the miles.
At least a written and clear answer from Dutch FB service desk and in my case some good and fast (reply within 2 days) service from FB. Seems like a confirmation of what the Canadian FB service told beaubo on the phone earlier.

[medcaregenmgr]

Yeah, well according to the Flying Blue Director Herbert Verschuren, (Watch the interview on Air Frances' website under Flying Blue).

"First the Flying blue program aims to REWARD it's Flying Blue Customers, the ones that use the program the most frequently"

.....ROFL.....Really!!!!! ....ROFL

"the benefit of miles lasting for life is not a benefit most other carriers offer"

.....ROFL........REALLY!!!!!! ROFL

"As of April 1st we will revise some accrue and redemption schemes, the objective is to reflect the price paid for the ticket in the most fair possible manner"

.......ROFL..... so, just an FYI that 133% increase is done in the most fair possible manner!!! Yeah, I call it the RIP-OFF scheme!

"We bring much more in line with the number of miles earned with the fair base and the ticket conditions will make the Flying Blue accrual more logic and fair"

Logic and fair...ROFL, you gotta be kidding!!!! ROFL

"Elite benefits will be maintain, unlike some other carriers, IT WILL EVEN BE REINFORCED."

Hmmm, since July 2005, well no more lounge access for Gold in partner airlines, no more priority luggage handling, I haven't seen priority boarding in a long while...Yes they will be maintained....The word Pinocchio comes to mind....Reinforced, please!! LOL

"And finally, to become and maintain the program of preference, by bringing tangible benefits to our customers, we want to do everything it takes to make sure that each and every customer feels that he or she is being recognized for the trust and the loyalty they give to us."

Liar, liar, pants of fire!!!! And that is why so many of us loyal customers are LEAVING.....Wake up oh mighty King and see that you don't have any clothes on!

[stimpy]

I have a question. If 50 of us high-flying Flyertalkers who spend €20,000 per year on AF/KL, changed preferred airlines due to the unfortunate downgrading of Flying Blue, would AF/KL really miss the €1,000,000 of revenue each year? Or would they really not give a monkey's you know what? Didn't they have over €6 billion in revenue last year?

[GUWonder]

Originally Posted by stimpy

I have a question. If 50 of us high-flying Flyertalkers who spend €20,000 per year on AF/KL, changed preferred airlines due to the unfortunate downgrading of Flying Blue, would AF/KL really miss the €1,000,000 of revenue each year? Or would they really not give a monkey's you know what? Didn't they have over €6 billion in revenue last year?

They probably wouldn't care. But if enough customers publicly embarrass the company in front of many other customers, then then chances of the company crying "Uncle!" goes up.

If the AMS and CDG lounges and AF-KL premium cabin seats start having printed notices from other customers show up that point out these negative changes to a lot more customers, then how will AF-KL management react?

[Aber Sabeel]

Originally Posted by GUWonder

They probably wouldn't care. But if enough customers publicly embarrass the company in front of many other customers, then then chances of the company crying "Uncle!" goes up.

If the AMS and CDG lounges and AF-KL premium cabin seats start having printed notices from other customers show up that point out these negative changes to a lot more customers, then how will AF-KL management react?

I like the idea. I am taking a flight via AMS in a couple of week. Would anyone suggest the text of the "printed notice"?

[JOUY31]

I have made this thread a sticky. There are currently two other main threads about the changes and their impact :

- changes on 4/1/09: Who is leaving and when [merged]

- FB devaluation: why don't you co-ordinate protest?

Jouy31
AF/KL co-moderator

[Richelieu]

Originally Posted by stimpy

I have a question. If 50 of us high-flying Flyertalkers who spend €20,000 per year on AF/KL, changed preferred airlines due to the unfortunate downgrading of Flying Blue, would AF/KL really miss the €1,000,000 of revenue each year? Or would they really not give a monkey's you know what? Didn't they have over €6 billion in revenue last year?

Yes, mostly they will not. Most customers takes miles as a "gift" and not a part of the overall price of the ticket, hence their inability to understand the fleecing. If the cost was passed as a "FB surcharge" you'd have people yelling all over the place.

OTOH, those 50 FTers spending 20k might not do that in low-margin economy long-haul, so the impact would be marginally better than 0,001 billion out of 19 (your 6 was quite underestimated) or 0,0053% or their revenue.

[Richelieu]

Originally Posted by GUWonder

T
If the AMS and CDG lounges and AF-KL premium cabin seats start having printed notices from other customers show up

I see a problem with your plan... There is no way one can access the AF/KL lounges without flying AF or KL. Which most opponents to the changes are no longer doing.

[Henry III]

Originally Posted by Richelieu

There is no way one can access the AF/KL lounges without flying AF or KL. Which most opponents to the changes are no longer doing.

You can fly ST partners! (If you really want to be cheeky, then fly CO! )

--Henry

[beadupont]

Air france program gets worse and worse.
In fact , they are asking 15% more miles to get you into a better seat in business,.AF still has middle seats in business in a 2-3-.2 configuration.
They charge extra for exit row seat 75 euros unless you are an elite flyer.
It is hard to redeem an award and taxes and fees are 3 times at least what other airlines charge.

You really have to watch the fare class in which booking is made or you wind up with only 25% of miles flown on the cheapest economy tickets and there is several hundred dollars difference to get the same trip , same dates at the 100% mileage level.

[KL803]

Originally Posted by JOUY31

I have made this thread a sticky. There are currently two other main threads about the changes and their impact :

- changes on 4/1/09: Who is leaving and when [merged]

- FB devaluation: why don't you co-ordinate protest?

Jouy31
AF/KL co-moderator

Thanks JOUY31 for making this a sticky, I was looking for the thread & didn't find it
BTW, I agree with Richelieu that AF/KL won't care at all. FB shows a typical French arrogance these days. We still can hope though, that they will feel the decline in a couple of years, but for us, the damage is done, oure miles are devaluated!

[JOUY31]

Originally Posted by KL803

Thanks JOUY31 for making this a sticky, I was looking for the thread & didn't find it
BTW, I agree with Richelieu that AF/KL won't care at all. FB shows a typical French arrogance these days. We still can hope though, that they will feel the decline in a couple of years, but for us, the damage is done, oure miles are devaluated!

I am not sure we can or should characterize arrogance as a national trait.